COMPOSITE PROFILE AND INSULATING STRIP THEREFOR
An insulating strip for a composite profile for window-, door- and facade elements includes an insulating strip body that extends in a longitudinal direction and has at least two longitudinal edges separated from each other in a transverse direction. The longitudinal edges are designed for a shear-resistant connection with profile parts of the composite profile. The insulating strip body has openings passing through one or more walls of the insulating strip body in a height direction. The openings are separated from each other by strips in the longitudinal direction, which strips are shaped like ladder rungs. The insulating strip body is formed to receive a clipped-on covering profile that covers the openings.
Latest TECHNOFORM CAPRANO UND BRUNNHOFER GMBH & CO. KG Patents:
- Insulating strip for supporting a composite structure
- Spacer profile for a spacer frame for an insulating window unit and insulating window unit
- Spacer arrangement with fusable connector for insulating glass units
- PLASTIC PROFILE FOR WINDOW, DOOR AND FACADE ELEMENTS
- REINFORCED PLASTIC PROFILE FOR WINDOW, DOOR AND FACADE ELEMENTS
The present invention relates to a ladder-shaped insulating strip for a composite profile for window-, door- and facade elements and a composite profile for window-, door- and facade elements.
Insulating strips for composite profiles for window-, door- and facade elements and composite profiles for window-, door- and facade elements are known, e.g., from DE 296 23 019 U1 (EP 0 829 609 B1), DE 197 35 702 A1, DE 298 21 183 U1 (EP 1 004 739 B1), DE 199 56 415 C1, DE 198 18 769 A1 and DE 198 53 235 A1.
An insulating strip is known from DE 198 18 769 A1 that is comprised of plastic and an embedded metal insert. The metal insert and the plastic have openings that result in a ladder-shaped structure of the ladder strip. The metal insert serves to prevent a total failure of the insulating strip in case of fire. The purpose of the openings in the metal insert is to reduce heat conductivity.
It is an object of the invention to provide an insulating strip (thermal isolating strip) for a composite profile, which facilitates a sufficiently high shear rigidity with improved thermal isolation, and a composite profile improved in this manner.
This object is achieved by an insulating strip according to claim 1, a covering profile according to claim 4 and a composite profile according to claim 5, respectively.
Further developments of the invention are provided in the dependent claims.
A composite profile, in particular a metal composite profile, is provided, in which the outwardly-located profile parts (e.g., outer frame and inner frame) made, e.g., of metal, are connected using one or more insulating strips made of plastic. A relative movement in the longitudinal direction is limited and/or prevented by the high shear rigidity (characteristic of the rungs in width, thickness, length, number).
The insulating strips are advantageously manufactured initially from a suitable material, e.g., by extrusion, as profile parts having a constant cross-section along the length. Thereafter, the rungs and/or more precisely the openings are produced by a processing such as a machine processing (e.g., milling), cutting (e.g., laser cutting, water jet cutting), punching, etc. The removed material can be recycled.
The metal profiles are fixedly and thus undetachably connected with the insulating strip.
The insulating strips can be provided with covering profiles or covering foils for covering the intermediate spaces between the rungs. The covering profiles or covering films can be, e.g., clipped-on, adhered-on, extruded-on, laminated-on, etc. In the alternative or in addition, it is also possible to fill up the intermediate spaces between the ladder rungs with a material that has a lower heat conductivity coefficient than the material of the rungs. The function of such a covering profile, etc., is, on the one hand, to protect against the penetration of moisture and, on the other hand, the protection of the inner core. The covering profiles or covering films can be attached before or after the mounting of the doors. The protection against moisture can be ensured with the covering profiles or covering films. In addition, decorative elements can be attached. For example, the covering element can be made electronically conductive and thus assume the color of the metal profile during the powder lacquering. Printing thereon is also possible.
One advantage is that the U-values (heat conductivity properties) of the insulating strip are not inordinately diminished by the attachment of the covering film/covering profile/filling.
Further features and advantages will follow from the description of the exemplary embodiments with the assistance of the Figures. In the Figures:
In the insulating strips shown in
The longitudinal sides or edges 21, 22 are adapted for the (in the longitudinal direction Z) shear-resistant connection with profile parts 31, 32 (see
In plan view, the rungs 23 have a width b in the longitudinal direction z that is chosen in accordance with the required transverse tensile strength, the required transverse stiffness and the material utilized and falls within the range of 0.5 mm to 10 mm, preferably 1 mm to 5 mm, more preferably 1 mm to 3 mm. In a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the rungs have a height (thickness) h (in direction y) that is chosen in accordance with the required transverse tensile strength, the required transverse stiffness and the material utilized and falls within the range of 0.5 mm to 10 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 5mm, more preferably 0.7 mm to 2 mm. The rungs 23 are disposed in the longitudinal direction with constant spacings d between them, which spacings fall within the range of 1 mm to 100 mm, preferably 1 mm to 50 mm, more preferably 1 mm to 5 mm and more preferably 1 to 3 mm. Naturally, other widths, thicknesses, lengths and spacings are possible in accordance with the requirements.
First test results were obtained from ladder-like insulating strips with rungs that had, in the plan view in the longitudinal direction of the insulating strip, a width b of 1 mm in a first embodiment and a width of 3 mm in a second embodiment, and each had constant spacings d of about 3 mm in the longitudinal direction of the insulating strip. In the plan view, the rungs had a length c of about 14 mm long in the direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the insulating strip with an overall dimension a of the insulating strip of about 23 mm in this direction. The insulating strips exhibited values for the transverse tensile strength (tension in the direction of the connection of the profile parts connected by the insulating strip, i.e. in direction x in
In the fourth embodiment of an insulating strip shown in
In an alternative embodiment, which is shown in
In the fifth embodiment shown in
The clip heads each project by a height h3 relative to the rest of the surface of the rungs 23 of the insulating strip body 20. The sum of the thickness h1 in the height direction y and twice the projecting length h3 is preferably identical to the thickness of the roll-in heads 25 in the height direction y.
In the fifth embodiment, a cover (cover profile) 40 is constructed so that it has three clip retainers (female clip parts) 48, of which the two outer ones have the same spacing as the two clip heads 28 located on one side of the insulating strip body 20 and the third clip retainer is disposed in the middle between these. As is implied by
The cover has abutting lips 42 formed on its edges in the transverse direction x, which abutting lips 42 extend in the longitudinal direction Z. The clip retainers (female clip parts) 48 have a distance h4 from the bottom of the clip retainer in the height direction y to the outermost point of the clip retainer, which distance h4 is less than the height h3 of the clip head 28. The lips 42 end in the height direction y at the height level of the clip retainers 48 or somewhat higher (see also
Plastic having a Young's modulus value of greater than 2000 N/mm2 is advantageously utilized as the material for the insulating strip. Suitable plastics are polyamide, polyester or polypropylene, for example PA66.
The thickness h1 of the insulating strip bodies of all embodiments falls within the range of 1 mm to 50 mm, preferably 1 mm to 10 mm, more preferably 1 mm to 2 mm, more preferably 1.4 to 1.8 mm. The thickness h2 of the cover is preferably less than or equal to the thickness of the insulating strip body associated therewith.
The embodiment shown in
Because the insulating strip bodies are comprised of plastic, no metal inserts are present, i.e. they are formed without metal inserts.
In
For strips having a≧22 mm, c falls in the range of 8 to 18 mm, preferably 12 mm. The height h in the height direction y is 1.2 to 2.4 mm, preferably 1.8 mm. The strip is made from PA66GF25.
The embodiment with modifications shown in
All of the embodiments shown in
Hard-PVC, PA, PET, PPT, PA/PPE, ASA and PA66 are possibilities for the material of the insulating strip body and PA66GF25 is preferred. Foams made of thermosetting plastics, such as PU having an appropriate density, are possibilities, preferably foams of lower density (0.01 to 0.3 kg/l).
Further applications of ladder-like profiles are directed to achieving a low shear strength (high longitudinal movability). In another application, openings are provided only to reduce the heat conductivity when a known, highly-conductive metal insert is used.
In the preferred embodiments having partially in situ extruded covers that are clipped onto the other side, wherein embodiments with completely clipped-on covers are particularly preferred, and also in the embodiments having adhered-on or laminated-on films, each for covering the openings, it is been determined in a surprising way for the entire or partially clipped-on covers that these only insubstantially influence the so-called U-values, i.e. the heat isolating characteristics of the insulating strip, as compared to not-covered versions. Thus, experiments with a solid strip having a cross-section of the type shown in
An insulating strip of the type shown in
Even though the cause of this effect is not completely clear, it is probably due to the design of the clip connections and thus the heat transmission path that is severely obstructed by the cover.
For the embodiments with the hollow chambers shown in
It is explicitly emphasized that all features disclosed in the description and/or the claims should be regarded as separate and independent of each other for the purpose of the original disclosure as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed invention, independent of the combination of features in the embodiments and/or the claims. It is explicitly stated that all specifications of ranges or of groups of units disclose all possible intermediate values or sub-group of units for the purpose of original disclosure as well as for the purpose of restriction of the claimed invention, in particular also as a limit of a range indication.
Claims
1-6. (canceled)
7. An insulating strip for a composite profile for window-, door- and facade elements, comprising:
- an insulating strip body extending in a longitudinal direction and having at least two longitudinal edges separated from each other in a transverse direction, the longitudinal edges being configured for a shear-resistant connection with profile parts of the composite profile, wherein a plurality of openings pass through at least one wall of the insulating strip body in a height direction, wherein ladder-rung-shaped strips separate the openings from each other in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the insulating strip body is configured for a clipped connection with a covering profile.
8. An insulating strip according to claim 7, further comprising at least one clip head projecting from at least one side in the height direction.
9. An insulating strip according to claim 8, further comprising at least one clip retainer having a recess extending in the height direction.
10. An insulating strip according to claim 7, further comprising at least one clip retainer having a recess extending in the height direction.
11. An insulating strip according to claim 10, further comprising a covering profile in situ extruded on the insulating strip body on one side of the openings as viewed in the transverse direction, wherein the covering profile and the insulating strip body are configured such that the covering profile clips onto the insulating strip body on the other side of the openings as viewed in the transverse direction.
12. An insulating strip according to claim 9, further comprising a covering profile in situ extruded on the insulating strip body on one side of the openings as viewed in the transverse direction, wherein the covering profile and the insulating strip body are configured such that the covering profile clips onto the insulating strip body on the other side of the openings as viewed in the transverse direction.
13. An insulating strip according to claim 8, further comprising a covering profile in situ extruded on the insulating strip body on one side of the openings as viewed in the transverse direction, wherein the covering profile and the insulating strip body are configured such that the covering profile clips onto the insulating strip body on the other side of the openings as viewed in the transverse direction.
14. An insulating strip according to claim 7, further comprising a covering profile in situ extruded on the insulating strip body on one side of the openings as viewed in the transverse direction, wherein the covering profile and the insulating strip body are configured such that the covering profile clips onto the insulating strip body on the other side of the openings as viewed in the transverse direction.
15. A covering profile for an insulating strip body having a width (a1) in a transverse direction, the covering profile comprising:
- a cover body having a width (a2) in the transverse direction that is less than the width (a1) of the insulating strip,
- at least one retaining element disposed on the cover body and being selected from the group consisting of at least one clip head complementary to at least one clip retainer disposed on the insulating strip body and at least one clip retainer complementary to at least one clip head disposed on the insulating strip body, and
- at least one abutment lip configured to abut the insulating strip body and extending in a longitudinal direction.
16. A composite profile for window-, door- and facade elements, comprising:
- at least two profile parts and
- at least one insulating strip according to claim 8, wherein the profile parts are connected with the insulating strip(s) in a shear-resistant manner.
17. A composite profile according to claim 16, further comprising a covering profile comprising:
- a cover body having a width (a2) in the transverse direction that is less than a width (a1) of the insulating strip,
- at least one clip retainer complementary to and engaging the at least one clip head disposed on the insulating strip body, and
- at least one abutment lip contacting the insulating strip body and extending in a longitudinal direction.
18. A composite profile for window-, door- and facade elements, comprising:
- at least two profile parts and
- at least one insulating strip according to claim 10, wherein the profile parts are connected with the insulating strip(s) in a shear-resistant manner.
19. A composite profile according to claim 18, further comprising a covering profile comprising:
- a cover body having a width (a2) in the transverse direction that is less than a width (a1) of the insulating strip,
- at least one clip head complementary to and engaging the at least one clip retainer disposed on the insulating strip body, and
- at least one abutment lip contacting the insulating strip body and extending in a longitudinal direction.
20. A composite profile for window-, door- and facade elements, comprising:
- at least two profile parts and
- at least one insulating strip according to claim 13, wherein the profile parts are connected with the insulating strip(s) in a shear-resistant manner.
21. A composite profile for window-, door- and facade elements, comprising:
- at least two profile parts and
- at least one insulating strip according to claim 14, wherein the profile parts are connected with the insulating strip(s) in a shear-resistant manner.
22. A composite profile for window-, door- and facade elements, comprising:
- at least two profile parts and
- at least one insulating strip according to claim 7, wherein the profile parts are connected with the insulating strip(s) in a shear-resistant manner.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 31, 2008
Publication Date: May 13, 2010
Applicant: TECHNOFORM CAPRANO UND BRUNNHOFER GMBH & CO. KG (Fuldabrueck)
Inventors: Thorsten Siodla (Baunatal), Erwin Brunnhofer (Fuldabrueck)
Application Number: 12/594,337
International Classification: E06B 7/16 (20060101);